Students Convicted of Possession or Sale of Drugs

STUDENTS CONVICTED OF POSSESSION OR SALE OF DRUGS

A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for FSA funds.

Convictions only count if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV aid—they do not count if the offense was not during such a period. Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record does not count, nor does one received when they were a juvenile, unless they were tried as an adult.

The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for FSA funds, depending on whether the conviction was for sale or possession and whether the student had previous offenses. (A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs.)

Possession of illegal drugs

Sale of illegal drugs

1st Offense

1 year from date of conviction

2 years from date of conviction

2nd Offense

2 years from date of conviction

Indefinite period

3rd Offense

Indefinite period

Indefinite period

If the student was convicted of both possessing and selling illegal
drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will
be ineligible for the longer period.